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Soaring food costs. Record oil prices. Home foreclosures.

What are local faith communities doing to uplift members during this economic crunch?

Josh Howard, 25, is the freshly minted youth pastor of Patterson Park Church, 3655 E. Patterson Road, Beavercreek. He believes religious leaders should preach sound money management when times are tight.

"Churches have a responsibility to teach people how to be good stewards of what they have," Howard said. "Economic problems stem from people spending more than they make. We have to show people what God's word has to say about finances."

Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 3300 W. Third St. recently hosted a 13-week program, Financial Peace University, to teach families and individuals how to budget their money.

The program, created by Dave Ramsey, author of "The Total Money Makeover," is available to churches, companies and military bases by calling (888) 22-PEACE (73223).

At Zion Baptist Church, 1684 Earlham Ave., the Rev. Brodie Mathis said members are especially sensitive to the plight of inner-city congregations.

"We have hosted workshops on how to avoid foreclosure," Mathis said. "Minority churches have to unite and figure out how to tackle these problems. Clergy from inner-city churches have a lot of power and economic sway. We should all get together and find ways to create jobs for people who are struggling to make ends meet."

Southbridge Fellowship, a nondenominational church in Raliegh, N.C., recently fueled its faithful by giving away $4,000 worth of gas at a nearby service station.

Although no local churches have stepped up to the pump, Alex Tuss of Dayton's Marianist Mission said faith leaders should back up their words with action.

"When you look into the eyes of someone in need and say 'stay warm and be well fed' and then do nothing for that person, what good is that?" Tuss said. "That's the challenge any denomination is going to face when everywhere you look people are hurting."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.